WAKEFIELD, Mass. – University of Vermont sophomore Sini Karjalainen was named Hockey East Player of the Week after a six-point weekend that included a program-record four-assist game on the road at Merrimack. Hockey East announced its weekly awards earlier Monday.

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"We had several players with outstanding weekends and first of all, congrats to Sini on her six-point weekend, tying the UVM record for most assists in a game, and being named Hockey East Player of the Week," said head coach Jim Plumer. "She was dominant all weekend at both ends of the ice. Val Caldwell also deserves special mention with a six-point weekend of her own, tying the UVM record for most points in a game, and eclipsing last year's scoring total in just eight games this season. We are excited to see so many of our players having a great start to the year."
 
Karjalainen tallied one goal and five assists as the Catamounts took three of a possible four conference points against the Merrimack Warriors. She had a league-high five assists, which included her four-assist performance that set the Division I program record on Friday (Oct. 25). Karjalainen added her second goal of the season with the game-winning marker in Saturday's 6-2 win.
 
The sophomore blueliner's six points tied her with five others for the most points in the nation over the last week, which included Caldwell who had two goals and four assists. Karjalainen also registered the most points by a defenseman in the country.
 
Karjalainen doubled her season point total to 12 on two goals and 10 assists for the second-most points by a blueliner in the nation. Karjalainen is one of only two defensemen in the country to have double-digit assists. As Vermont's leading points-scorer, Karjalainen has a one point lead on Boston College's Cayla Barnes for the most points by a defender in Hockey East.
 
A native of Posio, Finland, Karjalainen became the first Catamount to register a four-assist game in Division I program history. Cealy Nottingham '01 tallied four assists against Connecticut College in 1999 when Vermont women's hockey competed in Division III. She also became the ninth Catamount to record a four-point game, which matches the single-game program record.
 
Karjalainen wins the third Hockey East honor of her career and the second by a Catamount this season. As a freshman, she won Rookie of the Week (Dec. 10) and was later named Rookie of the Month for December. Lily Humphrey won the first award by a UVM skater this year when she was named Rookie of the Week (Oct. 14).
 
Vermont (3-1-4, 1-1-2 HEAW) returns to action on Tuesday (Oct. 29) when it hosts former ECAC foe Dartmouth (0-1-0, 0-1-0 ECAC) at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Tickets for the 6 p.m. puck drop can be purchased at UVMAthletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday.

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